地上の星
中島みゆき Lyrics

The lyrics of 中島みゆき's song 地上の星 (Chijou no Hoshi) reflect on the transience of life and the fleeting nature of human existence in the grand scheme of the universe. The song opens by drawing attention to the disappearance of stars and galaxies like "Sulbar in the wind" and the "Milky Way in the sand," without any proper farewells or goodbyes. This sense of metaphorical emptiness is further emphasized by the introduction of mythical creatures such as "the Pegasus on the grasslands" and "the Venus on the street corner," who have also vanished without allowing themselves to be observed.

The song continues to assert that no one remembers the stars that exist on earth, as humans only care to look up at the faraway ones in the sky. Instead of searching for meaning in the vast, unknown void, humanity spends its time chasing after fame and seeking out shiney things, ultimately only grasping at fleeting, meaningless symbols of success. The chorus then calls out to the swallows flying high in the sky, asking them to guide us to the stars on earth that we have forgotten.

Overall, 中島みゆき's 地上の星 serves as a poignant reminder that, in the face of the vast universe we are a part of, our time on this earth is limited and it is important to cherish and appreciate the things that are right in front of us.